The RBI has really created a mess with these new series of notes. They must provide the hardware device similr to the one used in USA to all those who ask for it. Yes it may cost them quite a lot but they need to be punished for what they have done. Mobile apps are already there, why are they wasting public money on it.
Prashant Ranjan Verma Accessibility Specialist, DAISY Consortium - www.daisy.org Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies - CPACC Individual Member, International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP) - www.accessibilityassociation.org General Secretary, National Association for the Blind - www.nabdelhi.in Chairman Sugamya Pustakalaya Committee - www.sugamyapustakalaya.in Trustee, Saksham - www.saksham.org Board Member, Abilympics - www.abilympicsindia.org Founder - AccessAble - www.accessable.in Phone: +91 9811686966 Creating the Best Way to Read and Publish - www.daisy.org -----Original Message----- From: AccessIndia <accessindia-boun...@accessindia.org.in> On Behalf Of Amiyo Biswas Sent: 15 May 2019 17:34 To: AccessIndia: a list for discussing accessibility and issues concerning the disabled. <accessindia@accessindia.org.in> Subject: Re: [AI] Reserve Bank of India suggests app to help visually impaired people identify rupee notes Thanks to Amar for his judicious comments. With best regards, Amiyo Biswas Cell: 9433464329 / 6290527506 ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ramya Venkitesh" <ra...@barrierbreak.com> To: <accessindia@accessindia.org.in> Sent: Wednesday, May 15, 2019 4:23 PM Subject: [AI] Reserve Bank of India suggests app to help visually impaired people identify rupee notes > Source: Newz Hook <https://newzhook.com/story/22245> > > The visually impaired community in India is not able to access the new > currency notes as they are inaccessible. This makes cash transactions > challenging for around 80 lakh visually impaired people in the country. > > The lack of identifiable features such as the dimensions and tactile > marks, that can be felt and sensed by blind people through touch have > made the new notes a huge headache. > > The Reserve Bank of India says it is not feasible to completely remove > the new notes from circulation, and has proposed to use technology to > fix the problem. It has come forward with the idea of a mobile phone > application that can be used to identify rupee notes. > > While the move to find a solution, which comes after sustained > pressure from disability rights groups, has been appreciated, > technology may not offer the way forward says Mumbai-based lawyer Amar > Jain. > > I will say that it's one of the ways to solve the problem but it does > not address the underlying problem of the physical currency being > inaccessible by itself. I do understand the challenge of replacing a > large volume of currency notes printed and there is cost involved in > everything but at the same time we should take lessons from this and > should ensure that at least the future designs of currency notes are > accessible for blind people. I don't think to fix something like this > with technology is a holistic approach. - Amar Jain, Lawyer > > Technology companies interested in developing an app for currency > identification have been asked to submit bids to the Reserve Bank of > India. > > The RBI has sent out a proposal in this regard that outlines the > requirements from the app. The app needs to have features that are > accessible and can be used easily by the blind people. Some of the > features > are: > > * The app should be able to identify banknotes of Mahatma Gandhi > Series and Mahatma Gandhi New series by capturing the image of the > notes placed in front of mobile camera or scrolled across it. > * Should be able to identify the note within a duration of two seconds > or less. > * Work in offline mode without Internet connection. > * Interface should be available with multi-lingual support or at least > Hindi and English. > * Provide audio notifications. > * Users should be able to find the app in all the app stores using the > voice option. > > While the app may help some, what about those who do not have access > to this technology? asks Vishal Kumar Jain. > > Jain, who is a member of BGFI-Blind Graduates' Forum of India says, > most people with visual disabilities in India do not have access to > smartphones and have limited opportunities to learn using screen > reading technology to operate a phone. "Also, the RBI doesn't seem to > have conducted any structured user needs study before specifying the > requirements in the tender", adds Jain. "Imagine the practicality of > holding a white cane in one hand in a crowded noisy street, while > using the other hand to hold the phone and point the camera accurately > towards currency, without being able to see". > > A better approach he says would be to have a small wearable device. > > The Central Bank of India and the Centre will need to step up and make > sure that such missteps do not occur again in the future and that > whenever currency is designed, it is done with thorough consideration. > This is true not just for currency but digital transactions, banks and > ATMs too. > > Thanks & Regards > > Ramya Venkitesh |Head New Initiatives > > Newz Hook <http://www.newzhook.com/> > > Newz Hook is now on WhatsApp <https://newzhook.com/whatsapp> > > > > Celebrating Global accessibility Awareness day- May 16 2019 > > > > Search for old postings at: > http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ > > To unsubscribe send a message to > accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in > with the subject unsubscribe. > > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, > please visit the list home page at > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org > .in > > > Disclaimer: > 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking > of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its > veracity; > > 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the > mails sent through this mailing list.. > Celebrating Global accessibility Awareness day- May 16 2019 Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ To unsubscribe send a message to accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in Disclaimer: 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails sent through this mailing list.. Celebrating Global accessibility Awareness day- May 16 2019 Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ To unsubscribe send a message to accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in Disclaimer: 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails sent through this mailing list..
